The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1887-02-05

GrgAnR.szEzE
This photograph of Lincoln, which
money can not buy, is simply tackled to
the wall and is innocent Of frame OF
glass. Near tits an engraving of Daniel
Webster, whereby also hangs Il tale.
In 1852 Mr.. D'Orsay was engaged in
decorating the Congregational Church
at Duxbury, Mass. His supply of chalk
being exhausted, he sent his boy to the
store after piece, and was waiting for
his return when there came into the
building large man whom D'Orsay
took to be an Indian at first, so dark
was his complexion. The bottoms OF
his pantaloons were tucked in his boots,
and he presented the general appear
ance of man who had been working
in his garden. He made many inqui-
ries about the progress of the work,
and D'Orsay felt bothered by them, but
was also puzzled by the intelligence
they displayed, so out of keeping with
the general appearance of his visitor.
Finally the unknown asked D'OrSay If
he could assist him. "I'm waiting for
my boy to hold the chalk-line." "Let
me do it," said the visitor, and, taking
the end in his hand, he carefully
snapped it wherever D'Orsay told him
to. When the boy came in he relieved
him. just then one of the committee
men came in, and seeing him, respect
fully removed his hat, saying: "Why,
Mr.. Webster, when did you come from
Washington" 1t had not till that mo-
ment occurred to D'Orsay that he was
working in the church that Webster at
tended, but when the truth flashed
upon him that he had asked the great
expounder of the Constitution to snap
a chalk-line for him, he felt as if he
would have liked the floor to open and
let him drop out of sight.
Mr.. D'Orsay met him once after that,
at Sandwich, Mass, where Webster and
Sam Tisdale, the iron merchant OF
Water street, who also died quarter
of a century ago, were in the habit OF
coming each year for good fishing
Tisdale paying the bills, including five
dollars to the chief of the Marshpee
Indians for the privilege of fishing
D'Orsay was seated at the supper table
when the two came in, and Webster
saluted him cordially and asked him il
he was still working at churches
Seated opposite were three young
sports from Boston, clerks that haC
come down and expressed the intention
to Squire Pope, the landlord, of fishing
the stream dry. One of the fellows
looked up as Webster took his seat anC
said to his companions: "Why, that
the old cookie that pick-a-backed IL
across the creek! wonder who he is?'
Calling the servant girl to him he asked
her in a whisper, and in another whis
per he got an answer that startled hin
and his companions: Daniel Webste
and Sam Tisdale," said the girl Thu
young fellows didn't stay to finish tn
meal, but got out of the room as sool
as possible.
D'Orsay was puzzled by their sud
den leaving, and when he furthe
learned that they had hired carriag
and left for Wareham in great haste h
asked the landlord the cause, where
upon Squire Pope told him the story a
Sam Tisdale had told it to him wit
glee. 1t seems the fishing tramp of tn
young fellows had brought them to
place where they wanted to cross, BIT
being dressed in clothes too fine to b
recklessly dampened, they locke
about for means to cross dryshoC
They soon deserted Webster and III
+ dale on the other shore and one
them cried out: ''say, old cookie, no
much will you charge to carry us acro
| pick-a-back. twenty-five cen
apiece" sung out Webster, in h
= most majestic tones. "All right" \
n sooner said than Webster plunged
and, picking up one of them, carrie
him on his back across, Returning, !
n pick-a-backed the other two to the fu
: Their bank, and pocketing the thr
I quarters, calmly resumed his fishing.
= Brooklyn Eagle.
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